07-05-2001, 03:34 PM
LAKE LANIER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FISHING REPORT<br>by Bill Vanderford<br><br>Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier have climbed into the 80 ‘s, and the lake level is holding around 8 feet below normal pool. Most of Lanier’s fish population has settled into their summer pattern.<br><br>We are catching lots of striped bass with the new Striper Flasher and a 1 ounce Blakemore Road Runner on points and humps all over the lake at 15 to 25 feet. Also, a few stripers are being taken on flat-lined live baits early in the day or down-lined live baits later in the day. The best action has been north of Brown’s Bridge.<br><br>Most spotted bass can be found in 10 to 25 feet of water around brush piles on points or humps all over the lake. These can be caught with a number of lures, but the most effective seems to be the spottail minnow. Quite a few are still being caught on 1/4 ounce Swirleybird spinners around points and underwater ridges near daylight and dark.<br>Even with the reduced water flow at the dam, trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam is great for both rainbow and browns. The “Chattahoochee Special” spinner is still the hottest lure for trout all over the river this year, but plenty of nice trout are being taken on dry flies during this hot weather.<br><br>Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide. He can be reached at 770-962-1241 or at his web site: www.fishinglanier.com<br><br><br>Living to Fish and Fishing to Live<br>Bill Vanderford<br>www.fishinglanier.com<br>770-962-1241